Succos is called by Chazal zman simchoseinu, the time
of our simcha. We are obligated to experience
simcha, and the Torah summarizes the reason for the
horrible punishments in parshas Ki Sovo, as due to a
lack of simcha in our worship of Hashem.

A hesped on the Brisker Rov delivered at his levaya
by Maran HaRav Shach yblct"a. 11 Tishrei this year
marks the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Brisker Rov,
zt'l. Maran HaRav Shach, shlita, was especially
close to the Brisker Rov.

"And [Yaakov] rested in that place" (Bereishis 28:11).
Rashi (ibid.) cites the Midrash to the effect that
"[Yaakov] rested only in that place, but for fourteen years
when he served in Eiver's study hall he did not sleep at
night, since he was totally engaged in Torah study."

In an article, "When two tribes" (6 Nov. '98), the (London)
Jewish Chronicle quoted Rabbi Dr. Julian Shindler, director
of marriage authorization at the Office of the Chief Rabbi as
stating that "increased rates of assimilation and
intermarriage have made our investigations (into the
eligibility of applicants from non-Orthodox communities to
marry under his office's auspices) more complex."

Avigdor Leiberman became known as "the strong man" in the
Netanyahu administration. During the recent elections, he ran
as head of the Yisrael Beiteinu slate. But not many people
know that Leiberman, a Russian immigrant and an avowed
secularist, has a daughter who is a chozeres
b'teshuva, who drew closer to yiddishkiet on her
own initiative after visiting Shabbos observant homes.